October

By Rosie Moore

I think if I were to take a poll of what is a person’s favorite season in our monthly walk through the year; I would get a host of replies. There are many who would say, “spring” for who doesn’t like the re-awakening of the earth after a cold and icy winter? There are more than many who would say, “summer” because who doesn’t like hazy, hot days when you can swim, camp, cavort on the beach, wallow in the sunshine? I don’t think there are too many who would say, “winter”, unless you are a ski enthusiast in Vermont or Gatlinburg, even though winter has the favorite holiday of the year.

And then there’s autumn. Nothing can compare to it, to the dazzling array of brightly colored leaves and the cool mornings and warm afternoons, when Nature takes a deep breath to prepare itself for the winter days ahead. She does this very methodically, gathering up her dying shrubs and flowers, making sure that they are serenely coddled away until the earth re-awakens in the spring. Here are some interesting facts about this glorious month. In common years January starts on the same day of the week as October, but no other month starts on the same day of the week as October in leap years. October ends on the same day of the week as February every year. In common years October starts on the same day of the week as May of the previous year, while in leap years, October ends on the same day of the week as August and November of the previous year. In years immediately before common years, October ends on the same day of the week as July of the previous year while years immediately before leap years, October ends on the same day of the week as April and December of the following year.

Are you confused? I know I am. Not to be outdone, October ends her month with a holiday filled with laughter, funny outfits, and scary costumes, pumpkin faces and scarecrow dummies and lots of sweet stuff. No better way to end a month that is known for colorful displays of natural beauty. It also commemorates the most beautiful song for autumn:

“The falling leaves, drift by my window…

The autumn leaves of red and gold.

I see your lips, the summer kisses,

The sunburned hand I used to hold.

Since you went away, the days grow long,

And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song.

But I miss you most of all, my darling,

When autumn leaves begin to fall.”

Thought for the day: The time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time. Bertrand Russell